Spatial modeling of tourism-related environmental load on communities using the example of Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine

This study aims to assess the spatial intensity and structural characteristics of tourism-related environmental impacts in Ivano-Frankivsk region, with particular attention to mountain communities of the Carpathian region.The research integrates the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) methodology with geospatial analysis and environmental statistics in order to ensure consistency between economic indicators of tourism development and ecological pressure metrics.The empirical framework is based on data from tourist tax reporting, environmental tax statistics, regional accounts, and the Unified State Register of business entities for the period 2019-2024, with detailed analysis conducted for 2024.Tourism demand intensity is measured using tourist-days normalised per square kilometre, while environmental pressure is evaluated through area-based indicators of water consumption, atmospheric emissions, discharges into water bodies, and municipal solid waste generation.In addition, the share of tourism enterprises in the formation of each environmental indicator is calculated to identify the structural role of the tourism sector within territorial communities.The results reveal a pronounced spatial concentration of tourism demand in mountain communities, where compact territorial size and recreational specialisation lead to exceptionally high levels of tourism intensity.Industrial and energy-oriented communities dominate in absolute and specific environmental pressure indicators, whereas tourism-oriented territories exhibit a high sectoral share of tourism enterprises in water use and wastewater discharges, despite lower total volumes.Municipal solid waste generation demonstrates extreme spatial concentration linked primarily to industrial infrastructure, while the contribution of tourism enterprises remains relatively limited even in highly recreational areas.